The 21-3 Michigan State Spartans are in second place in the Big Ten with an 8-1 record, a half game behind Michigan for first. The Spartans host the 12-10 Penn State Nittany Lions Thursday night. The Nittany Lions are 3-6 in the Big Ten and tied for tenth with Nebraska.

Michigan State leads the series against Penn State 31-7, including 19-1 in East Lansing. Three of Penn State’s 7 wins in the series have come in the last 3 seasons. Michigan State beat Penn State 79-63 in State College December 31 in the Big Ten opener for both schools. Penn State led by 12 points in the first half before the Spartans rallied.

Penn State is coached by Patrick Chambers. The Nittany Lions have losses to Bucknell, Ole Miss in Brooklyn, at Pittsburgh, Princeton, Michigan State, at Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, at Michigan, and at Purdue. Penn State has won 3 straight games after a six game losing streak to open Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions have key wins at Penn, LaSalle, St. John’s in Brooklyn, Marshall, at Duquesne, Nebraska, at Ohio State, and Purdue Sunday 79-68. Penn State is 10-8-1 ATS and the total is 12-7 this season.

Penn State is outscoring teams 75-72 this season. The Nittany Lions are shooting 44.6% from the field and 32.8% from 3 point range. Penn State is #40 in free throw shooting at 74.1% from the line. Nittany Lion opponents are shooting 40.8% from the field and 35.2% from 3 point range. Penn State averages 35.6 rebounds per game and opponents average 32.4 per game. The Nittany Lions average 12 assists, 10.5 turnovers, 4.3 steals and 5.2 blocks per game. Opponents average 12.2 assists, 11.1 turnovers, 5.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.

Michigan State is coached by Tom Izzo. The Spartans have losses at home to North Carolina and Michigan plloss to Georgetown 64-60 Saturday in new York City. Michigan State has lost two of their last 3 games after an 11 game winning streak. Michigan State also has key wins over Kentucky in Chicago, Columbia, Portland, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma in a tournament in Brooklyn, Oakland in Auburn Hills, at Texas, at Penn State, Indiana twice, Ohio State, Minnesota, at Northwestern, at Illinois and at Iowa. Michigan State is 11-8-2 ATS and the total is 10-11 this season.

Michigan State is outscoring teams 78-65 this season. The Spartans are #41 in scoring and #48 in points allowed nationally. MSU is shooting 47.2% from the field and 37.9% from 3 point range. The Spartans are #52 or better nationally in both categories. Michigan State makes 68.8% of their free throws. Spartan opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field and 31.8% from 3 point range. Michigan State is #12 in opponents’ field goal percentage nationally. The Spartans average 38.7 rebounds per game and opponents average 30.7 per game. MSU is #36 in rebounding nationally. The Spartans average 17.3 assists, 11.4 turnovers, 7.8 steals and 5.2 blocks per game. Opponents average 10.5 assists, 13.8 turnovers, 5.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.

Penn State is 7-2-1 ATS after a straight up win, 6-2-1 in road games, 5-2-1 after a cover and against teams with winning home records, 3-7 against teams with winning records, and in Big Ten games, and 3-8 overall.

Michigan State is 4-1 ATS after a straight up loss, and 9-4 overall. The over is 9-4 in the last 13 in this series and 5-0 in east Lansing recently. The home team has covered 5 of the last 6 games in this series.

Although Penn State has won 3 straight games, those wins came against mediocre Nebraska and Purdue teams, and a slumping Ohio State team. Michigan State has lost two of three but Payne coming back makes them a more dangerous team. Michigan State should win easily at home.